Vietnam, RoK forge stronger parliamentary cooperation

The official visit to Vietnam by Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea (RoK) Woo Won Shik and his spouse continues the recent momentum of high-level exchanges between the two countries, underscoring the closeness and political trust that characterise the Vietnam RoK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

A Comprehensive Strategic Partnership reaching new depth

Vietnam and the RoK share a longstanding history of amity dating back centuries. On December 22, 1992, the two countries established diplomatic relations, opening a new phase of cooperation.

Over more than three decades, bilateral ties have advanced significantly, elevated to a Comprehensive Partnership in the 21st Century in 2001, upgraded to a Strategic Cooperative Partnership in 2009, and, in December 2022, further advanced to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Since this upgrade, political trust has been continually strengthened, supported by active high-level exchanges. Vietnam's recent visits to the RoK include those by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (July 2024); Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son (June 2024); President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Do Van Chien (August 2025); and Party General Secretary To Lam (August 2025). Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had a meeting with President Lee Jae Myung during the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur in October 2025, while State President Luong Cuong participated in the 32nd APEC Economic Leaders’ Week in Gyeongju in October 2025).

On the Korean side, recent visits to Vietnam include those by Land, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Park Sang Woo (March 2025); Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Minister Song Miryung (March 2025); Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Ahn Duk-geun (April 2025); and Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, who also attended the fourth P4G Summit (April 2025).

Party General Secretary To Lam’s State visit to the RoK in August 2025 was described as a milestone, marking him as the first state guest received by President Lee Jae Myung after taking office. During the visit, both sides issued a Joint Statement on deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and exchanged ten cooperation documents across multiple sectors.

The most recent high-level engagement was State President Luong Cuong’s participation in the 32nd APEC Economic Leaders’ Week in Gyeongju. Leaders of the two sides affirmed their commitment to promoting mutually beneficial economic cooperation, advancing science and technology, innovation, digital transformation and human-resources development as a new pillar of bilateral ties, and expanding cooperation in education, culture and people-to-people exchange.

The Vietnam-RoK political trust continues to underpin substantial cooperation in trade, investment and development. The RoK is Vietnam’s largest investor, with cumulative investment reaching 94.3 billion USD as of October; the second-largest provider of ODA pledges (4 billion USD through 2030); and the third-largest trade partner, with bilateral trade hitting 81.5 billion USD in 2024 and 73.2 billion USD in the first ten months of 2025. Both sides target to raise bilateral trade to 150 billion USD by 2030.

Science and technology cooperation is emerging as a new pillar. Both countries are working to implement Phase 2 of the Vietnam Korea Institute of Science and Technology (VKIST), while major Korean technology corporations are expanding activities at Vietnam’s National Innovation Centre (NIC).

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (L) meets with Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea Woo Won Shik in Seoul on July 2, 2024. (Photo: VNA)

Education, culture and people-to-people exchanges remain vibrant. Vietnam currently has around 43,000 students in the RoK, mostly studying Korean language or enrolled at university level. The presence of around 350,000 Vietnamese in the RoK and 200,000 Koreans in Vietnam, including some 80,000 Vietnamese Korean multicultural families, has created strong societal links that support deeper cultural and people-to-people cooperation.

Beyond bilateral ties, the two countries have worked closely together at multilateral organisations such as the United Nations, WTO, APEC, ASEM and within regional mechanisms including Mekong Korea, ASEAN Korea, ASEAN+3, the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS).

Enhancing bilateral parliamentary cooperation

Parliamentary relations have played an important role in advancing bilateral cooperation. Since the signing of the first cooperation agreement in 2006 and the renewed agreement in 2013 during a visit by then Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Sinh Hung, inter-parliamentary exchanges and collaboration have grown steadily.

Both sides have maintained regular meetings among parliamentary leaders, committees and friendship parliamentarians’ groups. They have exchanged information and experience on legislative, supervisory and economic diplomacy activities, and coordinated in overseeing the implementation of bilateral agreements. They have also cooperated and supported each other at multilateral parliamentary forums such as the IPU, AIPA and APPF, contributing to regional and global peace, stability and development.

Against this backdrop, the upcoming visit of Speaker Woo Won Shik and his spouse is expected to deepen parliamentary cooperation and further strengthen the Vietnam RoK relationship. The visit reflects Vietnam’s consistent policy of valuing ties with the Republic of Korea and its aspiration to elevate political trust, enhance comprehensive cooperation and broaden mutual understanding. It also aims to advance the implementation of the 2013 inter-parliamentary cooperation agreement; maintain regular exchanges at all levels; and reinforce coordination and mutual support at regional and global parliamentary fora./.